You can view their creations on the beach at the 13th Annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Competition Thursday through Saturday.

There is no charge for the show, but you have to pay to park at Hampton Beach.

Ten sculptors will seek $15,000 in purse money and a chance to compete internationally depending on how they do with the theme "Knights and Days of Sand."

I went down last week to meet event organizer, founder and master sand sculptor Greg Grady.

It was pouring rain and he was waiting for the first loads of sand to be delivered to the beach with Joe Hurley, the king of fun.

The beach crystals are too round to use in the sand sculpting, Grady said. While fresh cut sand is "stackable."

The truck was overdue.

Hurley has done just about every major job there is on the beach, Grady said, and at first Hurley did not like Grady or his fancy pants idea to have some sort a sand castle competition.

"He did not want me messing with his beach," Grady said out of Hurley's earshot.

But not only did Hurley like what he saw, Grady said, he became its fiercest advocate and protector.

Hurley said the sand moves around and is dredged on some sorta routine. But you might have perfect sand one year for a sandcastle competition but not the next. It could get washed away.

The 150 tons of sand arrived from the pit, somewhere in New Hampshire, and was dumped into forms that were being banged together as the rain came down, and it will be turned into 10 individual works of art plus one community art project.

Judging and voting on the people's choice award is Saturday from 1-4 p.m. with the awards presented at ceremony at 8 p.m. Saturday night on the Sea Shell Stage.

Fireworks will follow on the beach at 9:30 p.m. It's all free.

The sculptures are illuminated for night viewing and will be created during 24 hours of solo competition Thursday.

A master group carve was created Wednesday and met crafting tons of fine-cut sand into vying for both big cash prizes and a chance to compete just next to the magnificent new Seashell building on the beach, part of a $13 million state park overhaul of the beach in the past few years.

As you face the ocean from the front of the stores, look to the right of the stage area for the competition.

Grady said there are two new really great entrants to the competition this year.

He was hanging out in the rain under a new shade kiosk of sorts with the Joe Hurley, the king of fun at Hampton Beach.